Electric iron with signaling means



O. B. SUTTON Oct. 31, 1950 WITH SIGNALING MEANS Filed Sept. 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TOR.

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Oct. 31, 1950 Filed Sept. 4, 194a Patented Oct. 31, 1950 ELECTRIC IRON WITH SIGNALING MEANS Otis B. Sutton, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 4,1948, Serial No. 47,842

Claims.

This invention relates to electric smoothing irons and more particularly to a control therefor which will automatically indicate to the user whether the iron is at the proper temperature for ironing the particular fabric for which the control is set.

The invention is particularly useful when a plurality of different types of fabrics are being ironed in succession. It is also useful in informing the user when the iron has reached its D D temperature at the beginning of any ironing operation.

The normal household ironing mayeconsist of silks, rayons, cottons, wools, and linens. Controls have been provided which can be set so that the iron will be held at the proper temperature for ironing any of th foregoing fabrics. However, if an attempt is made to iron any particular fabric before the iron is hot enough futile effort is expended by the user. If the control is set at the proper temperature for ironing one particular fabric and is changed to the proper temperature for ironing another fabric some tim will elapse before the iron temperature will reach. the proper temperature corresponding to the new setting.

If the control is changed from a high temperature setting to a low temperature setting while the iron is hot, immediate use of the iron will scorch the fabric having a lower ironing temperature.

temperature setting to a high temperature setting, immediate use of the iron will result in wasted effort by the user because the iron is not immediately hot enough for ironing the highe temperature fabric.

In either case, according to this invention, the

= user is constantly informed as to whether or not the iron is at the proper temperature for ironing any particular fabric for which the control is set. -More particularly according to this invention a single signal light is provided which is off or unilluminated when-the iron is at too low a temperature for ironing the particular fabric for which the control is set. When the temperature of the iron is at the proper. temperature for which the control is set the signal light will be illuminated in distinctivemanner to indicate that the iron is at the proper temperature. However, if the control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower temperature setting while the iron is still hot the signal light will be illuminated in another distinctive manner toindicate to the user that the iron is too hot for ironing the fabric for which the control is set.

- Conversely, if the control is moved from a low This application is a species of the generic invention disclosed and claimed in an application by Edward A. Welland, Serial No. 47,876, filed concurrently herewith. In the Welland application a single signal light is provided which is so controlled as to signal whenever the iron temperature is below that indicated by the control setting, to give one type of active distinctive signal when the iron temperature is at the temperature indicated by the control setting and to give another type of distinctive active signal when the iron temperature is above that indicated by the control setting.

According to the present invention a signal light is so connected with the control circuit to remain off when the iron temperature is below the temperature indicated by the control setting, to be on steadily when the iron temperature corresponds to that indicated by the control setting and to blink rapidly when the iron temperature is above that indicated by the control setting.

According to this invention, movement of the control from its off position to any particular setting or movement of the control from a low temperature setting to a higher one will close three pairs of contacts to close two circuits, the third circuit remaining open because a fourth pair of contacts are open. One circuit will connect the heater directly across the line, the second circuit includes a resistance in shunt circuit so that little current will flow therethrough as long as the first circuit remains closed. The iron will then heat up until it approaches the temperature for which the control is set. The thermostat will then operate to close the fourth pair of contacts to close the third circuit which will connect a signal light in shunt with the heater. The arrangement is such that sufficient current wil fiow through the heater to maintain it active and current will flow through the light to illuminate it. The thermostat will continue to be heated until it opens the first and third circuits. The light will then be connected across the line in series with the heater and a resistance. The resistance values are such that the light will be illuminated but the heating rate of the heater will be materially reduced. The thermostat will then oscillate back and forth to maintain the iron at its proper tem erature and the signal light will remain continuously on to indicate that the iron is at its proper temperature.

If the control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one the first three pairs of contacts will be open and the signal light will be connected across the line in series with a blinker which will cause the light to blink rapidly to indicate that the iron is too hot for ironing the fabric for which the control is set. The light will continue to blink rapidly until the iron cools and the thermostat again will oscillate back and forth to maintain the proper iron temperature and the light will be on steadily to indicate that the iron temperature is proper.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a skeleton view of an iron with the parts broken away to show one modification of the control and signal light of this invention; and

Figure 2 shows how the control and signal light of Fig. 1 are connected in circuit.

Referring to the drawings the reference numeral I8 represents a sole plate heated by an electric heater II. of any suitable character. A cover shell I2 is secured to the sole plate I8 in any suitable manner such as by a bolt. A handle I8 has front and rear legs I5 and I8 and is secured to the cover shell I2 in spaced relationship thereto as shown in Fig. 1. A control knob I1 is positioned over the cover shell I2 between the front and rear legs of the handle I8.

Drivingly attached to the dial I1 is a control shaft I8 screw threaded into the nut I8 secured to a bracket 28, supported from the sole plate I8 by a post 2| made up of a plurality of insulating washers 22. The control shaft I8 is held against inadvertent rotation by a compression spring I8.

Positioned against the sole plate I8 by the washers 22 is a bimetallic thermostat 28 carrying an insulated button 25 at its free end. A signal light 88 is positioned in the rear leg I8 of handle I8. The post 2| carries three spring arms 88, 8|, and 82 and in addition the spring arms I8I and I82 which carry coacting contacts I88 and I88. An insulating button I85 extends downwardly from spring 88 through spring I82 into contact with spring IN. The spring arm 8| has an extension 88 separated therefrom by an insulating connection 88. A spring arm 85 is carried by an insulating post 88. The spring arm 88 carries contacts 81, 88, and 88 which cooperate with contacts 88, 8|, and 82 carried by the spring arm 8|, the extension 88 and the spring arm 88 respectively. The spring arm 8I also carries a contact 88 which cooperates with a contact 88 carried by the free end of spring arm 82. The shaft I8 extends through openings in the spring arms 82 and 8| so as to contact the spring arm 88. The button 25 extends through an opening in the spring arm 85 so as to contact with extension 88 under certain conditions and the shoulder 82 contacts with the spring arm 88 under certain conditions.

One side of heater II is connected to one side of a power line by a conductor 8| and its other side to spring I8I by conductor I88. The spring I82 is connected to the spring 88 by conductors I81 and I88. The spring 8| is connected to the other side of the power line by a conductor 81 which includes a low resistance 88. The spring 82 is connected to the light 88 by a conductor 88 and the light 88 to the other side of the power line by conductor 81.

A blinker bimetal 18 is suitably insulated from the sole plate I8. The bimetal 18 carries a contact 18 which coacts with a fixed contact 18 connected to the juncture of conductors I88 and I81 by conductor 85. Contact 15 is connected to a heater 11 wrapped about the bimetal 18 and heater 11 is connected to spring 85 by conductors 88 and 81. A high resistance 88 is connected between the junction of conductors 86 and 81 and the conductor 88.

The nut I8 and shaft I8 have cooperating stops whereby rotation of the shaft I8 and the dial I1 is limited to less than a complete revolution. The arrangement is such that when the dial I1 rotates to its limit in one direction the lower end of the shaft I8 will press the spring arm 88 downwardly to completely separate the contacts 81 and 88 when the dial is in its off position and the iron is cold. This action will also press the button I85 into contact with the spring arm I8| and separate the contacts I88 and I88. The dial I1 carries indicia about its edge such as flofl'nurayon'flflsilknllcotwn'llllwoolIl'and "linen" in the order named so that when the dial I1 is rotated near its maximum extent from the oii" position the dial will indicate a linen" setting and the lower end of the shaft I8 will be positioned near its upper limit.

Operation The control is in its on position as shown. Suppose it is moved to a high temperature setting. The lower end of shaft I8 will move upwardly and the spring arm 88 will follow it to close contacts 81, 88 and 88, 8| and 88, 82 and also contacts I88, I88. The heater II will be energized as follows: Conductor 8|, heater II, conductor I88, spring arm I8I, contacts I88, i88, spring arm I82, conductors I81, I88, spring arm 88, contacts 81, 88, spring arm 8|, low resistance 88, and conductor 81. Little current will flow through lamp 88 or blinker 18 because the contacts 88, 88 are open and because of the high resistance 88.

The sole plate temperature rises and the blmetal 28 flexes upwardly until the end of abutment 25 contacts the extension 88 to bend it upwardly and close contacts 88, 88. The other contacts will remain closed. The heater II will still be energized in the same circuit as before and the light 88 will be in shunt with the resistance 88 in the following circuit: Contacts 88, 8|, extension 88. contacts 88, 88, spring arm 82, conductor 88, and light 88. The resistance of the light 88 is such that the current will be satisfactory to light the lamp. The blinker heater 11 will remain shunted out of circuit.

As the sole plate temperature rises the button 25 will flex both the spring arms 8| and 82 upwardly and open the contacts 81, 88 and 88, 8|. The contacts 88, 82 remain closed as do the contacts 88, 88. The light 88 and the heater II will remain in the following circuit: Conductor 8|, heater II, conductor I88, spring arm I8I, contacts I 88, I88, spring arm I82, conductor I81, conductor I88, spring arm 88, contacts 88, 82, spring arm 85, conductor 81, high resistance 88, conductor 88, light 88, and conductor 81. The light 88 will remain illuminated but the heating rate of the heater II will be very small because of the high resistance 88.

The bimetal 28 will then oscillate back and forth to maintain the sole plate temperature at theproper value while the light 88 will remain on to indicate that the sole plate is at the proper temperature.

If now the control is moved to a lower temperature setting the bottom end 01' the shaft II will move the spring arm 80 downwardly and open the contacts 88, 9| and 81, 90. The spring arm 85 will engage the shoulder 42, contacts 89, 92 will be opened and the following circuit will be established: Conductor 4|, heater ll, conductor I06. spring arm Ifli, contacts I03, I04, spring arm I02, conductors I01, 95, blinker heater I1, conductor 96, resistance 98, light 34, and conductor 31. The blinker 16 will operate to open and close the foregoing circuit so that the signal light 34 will blink rapidly to indicate that the sole plate is too hot.

This action will continue until the blmetal 24 moves downwardly suflicient to remove its button 25 out of contact with the extension 83 and permit the spring arm ill to move downwardly and reclose the contacts 88, 9|, and 81, 80. At the same time the downward movement of the shoulder 42 will permit the closure of contacts 89, 92. The bimetal 24 will then oscillate back and forth to maintain the sole plate at the new temperature setting and the light 34 will be on continuously to indicate that the sole plate is at its proper temperature.

If the control is again moved to a higher temperature setting, contacts 81, 90 and 88, 9| will remain closed. The collar 33 on shaft 18 will operate to open contacts 93, 94 and the light 34 will remain out to indicate that the sole plate temperature is too low.

If the control is turned to its off position the end of the shaft l8 will force the spring arm 80 downwardly to a position in which the insulating button I05 will engage the spring arm illl to open the contacts I03, IM'and deenergize the entire iron. The spring arms NH and I02 may be omitted, if desired, in which case the cord plug should be removed from its socket when the control is moved to its off position.

The value of the resistances 98 and 99 is so chosen that when the light is connected in shunt circuit therewith the light will be illuminated and when the heater is connected in series circuit therewith its heating rate will be materially reduced so as to be substantially inactive.

From the foregoing it can be seen that this invention provides a control and signal light in which the signal light is off when the iron temperature is too low, is on steadily when the iron temperature is correct and blinks rapidly when the iron temperature is too high to continuously inform the user of the condition of the iron relative to the control setting.

While I have shown but one modification of my invention it is to be understood that this modification is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An electric iron comprising: a sole plate; an electric heater therefor; a signal light; switching means; a blinker switch; conductors connecting said heater, light, blinker switch and switching means to a power line in such manner as to form a plurality of circuits; said switching means being connectedin said circuits to connect said heater directly across the line in one position with said light and auxiliary current control means out of circuit, to simultaneously connect said heater and light in circuit in a second position with said blinker switch out of circuit and to simultaneously connect said light and blinker switch in circuit in a third position with said heater being inoperative and thermostatic means positioned to actuate said switching means to control current flow through said circuits so as to continuously activate said heater when the sole plate temperature is below a set value, to I intermittently activate said heater when the sole plate temperature reaches said value so as to maintain said sole plate at said value, to simultaneously continuously activate said light so that said light burns steadily when the sole plate is maintained at said value and to deactivate said heater and activate and deactivate said light rapidly when the sole plate temperature is above said value.

2. An electric iron according to claim 1 including a manually actuatable control coacting with said switching means and said thermostatic means for varying said set temperature value; the arrangement being such that when said control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one said light will be activated and deactivated rapidly to cause said light to blink on and off rapidly until the sole plate temperature drops to the new value and when said control is moved from a low temperature setting to a higher one said light will be deactivated until the sole plate temperature rises to the new value and in either case said light will be activated.

continuously when the sole plate temperature reaches the new value.

3. An electric iron comprising: a sole plate; an electric heater therefor; a signal light; a blinker switch; switching means; conductors connecting said heater, light, blinker switch and switching means to a power line in such manner as to form a plurality of circuits; said switchin means being connected in said circuits to connect said heater directly across the line in one position with said light and blinker switch out of circuit, to simultaneously connect said heater and light in circuit in a second position with said blinker out of circuit, to simultaneously connect said light in circuit in a third position with said blinker switch out of circuit and said heater bein inoperative and to simultaneously connect said light and blinker switch in circuit in a fourth position with said heater being inoperative and thermostatic means responsive to sole plate temperature positioned to actuate said switching means to control current flow through said circuits so as to continuously activate said heater and deactivate said light and blinker switch when the sole plate temperature is below a set value, to slowly activate and deactivate said heater, continuously activate said light and deactivate said blinker switch when the sole plate temperature is at said value and to deactivate said heater and activate said light in series with said blinker switch when the sole plate temperature is above said value to cause said light to blink rapidly by the action of said blinker switch.

4. An electric iron according to claim 3 including a manually actuatable control coacting with said switching means and said thermostatic means for varying said set temperature value; the arrangement being such that when said control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one said light will be activated in series with said blinker-switch so as to blink on and off rapidly until the sole plate temperature drops to the new value and when said control is moved from a low temperature setting to a higher one said heater will be activated and said light deactivated until the sole plate temperature rises to the new value and in either event when the sole plate temperature reaches the new value said heater will be intermittently activated and said light will be continuously activated.

5. An electric iron comprising: a sole plate; an electric heater therefor; a signal light; a blinker switch; a resistance; multiple position switching means for controlling the operation of said light and heater; said switching means being connected to said heater, light, blinker switch and resistance in such manner as to connect said heater directly across the line in one position with said light, blinker switch and resistance out of circuit, to simultaneously connect said heater, light and resistance in circuit in a second position with said blinker switch out of circuit and to simultaneously connect said heater, light, blinker switch and resistance in circuit in a third position; and thermostatic means coacting with said switching means to move it to itsvarious positions; said thermostatic means and switching means being so constructed and arranged as to activate said heater and deactivate said light when the sole plate temperature is below a set value, to intermittently activate said heater when the sole plate temperature reaches said value to maintain the sole plate at said value, to simultaneously activate said light continuously to cause it to be on steadily as the sole plate is being maintained at said value and to completely deactivate said heater and rapidly activate and deactivate said light to cause it to blink rapidly when the sole plate temperature is above said value.

6. An electric iron according to claim 5 including a manually actuatable control coacting with said switching means and said thermostatic means for varying said set temperature value; the arrangement being such that when said control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one said light will be activated and deactivated rapidly to cause said light to blink on and oil rapidly until the sole plate temperature drops to the new value and when said control is moved from a low temperature setting to a higher one said light will be deactivated until the sole plate temperature rises to the new value and in either event when the sole plate temperature reaches the new value said heater will be intermittently activated and said light continuously activated to cause said light to be on steadily.

7. An electric iron comprising: a sole plate; an electric heater therefor; a signal light; a blinker switch; a resistance; a multiple position switching means for controlling the operation of said heater, light and blinker switch; said switching means being connected to said heater, light, blinker switch and resistance in such manner as to connect said heater directly across the line in one position with said light, blinker switch and resistance out of circuit, to simultaneously connect said heater and light in circuit in a second position with said blinker switch and resistance out of circuit, to simultaneously connect said heater, light and resistance in circuit in a third position with said blinker switch out of circuit and to simultaneously connect said heater, light, blinker switch and resistance in circuit in a fourth position; and a thermostat positioned to be responsive to sole plate temperature coacting with said switching means to move it to its various positions; said thermostat and switching means being so constructed and arranged as to activate said heater and deactivate said light and blinker switch when the sole plate temperature is below a set value, to intermittently activate said heater when the sole plate temp'mtm'e reaches said value to maintain said sole plate at said value, to simultaneously continuously activate said light and deactivate said blinker switch as the sole plate is being maintained at said value and to completely deactivate said heater and activate said light in series with said blinker switch to cause said light to blink rapidly when the sole plate temperature is above said value.

8. An electric iron according to claim 7 including a manually actuatable control coacting with said switching means and said thermostat for varying said set temperature value; the ab rangement being such that when said control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one said light is activated in series with said blinker switch to cause said light to blink rapidly until the sole plate temperature drops to the new value and when said control is moved from a low temperature setting to a higher one said light and blinker switch will be completely deactivated until the sole plate temperature rises.

to the new value and in either event when the sole plate temperature reaches the new value said heater will be intermittently activated and deactivated and said light activated continuously whereby said light will be continuously on Lhile said sole plate is maintained at the new value.

9. An electric iron comprising: a sole plate; a heater therefor; a signal light; a blinker switch; a low resistance; a high resistance; multiple position switching means including a plurality oi pairs of coacting contacts; conductors connecting said heater, light, resistances, blinker switch and said coacting contacts to a power line so as to form four circuits across the line, a first in which said heater is connected directly across the line in series circuit with said low resistance and said light is in shunt circuit in series with said high resistance, a second in which said heater is connected in series circuit with said light and said high resistance being in shunt circuit, a third in which said heater is connected in series circuit with said high resistance and light and a fourth in which said heater is connected in series circuit with said blinker switch, high resistance and light; the resistance values being such that in said first circuit said heater is active and said light and blinker switch inactive, that in said second circuit said heater and light are active and said blinker switch inactive, that in said third circuit said heater and blinker switch are inactive and said light active and that in said fourth circuit said heater is inactive and said light and blinker switch active; and a bimetallic element responsive to sole plate temperature for actuating said switching means; the construction and arrangement being such that when the sole plate temperature is below a set value said first circuit will be closed andthe light will be inactive, when the sole plate temperature reaches said value said second and third circuits will be intermittently and alternately open and closed and the light will be on steadily and when the sole plate temperature is above said value said fourth circuit will be closed and said light will blink rapidly by the action of said blinker switch.

10. An electric iron comprising: a sole plate; a heater therefor; a signal light; a blinker switch; a low resistance; a high resistance; multiple position switching means including a plurality of pairs of coacting contacts; conductors connecting said heater, light, resistances, blinker switch and said coacting contacts to a power line 9 so as to form four circuits across the line, a first in which said heater is connected directly across the line in series circuit with said low resistance and said light is in shunt circuit in series with said high resistance, a second in which said heater is connected in series circuit with said light and said high resistance is in shunt circuit, a third in which said heater is connected in series circuit with said high resistance and light, and a fourth in which said heater is connected in series circuit with said blinker switch, high resistance and light; the resistance values being such that in said first circuit said heater is active and said light and blinker switch inactive; that in said second circuit said heater and light are active and said blinker switch inactive, that in said third circuit said heater and blinker switch are inactive and said light active, and that in said fourth circuit said heater is inactive and said light and blinker switch are active; a bimetallic element responsive to sole plate temperature for actuating said switching means; a manually actuatable control coacting with said switching means and bimetallic element to vary the set temperature at which said sole plate is to be maintained; the construction and arrangement being such that when the sole plate temperature is at the set value the second and third circuits will be intermittently and alternately closed and the light will be continuously active, that when said control is moved from a high temperature setting to a lower one said fourth circuit will be closed and said light will blink rapidly by the action of said blinker until the sole plate temperature falls to the new value; and that when the control is moved from a low temperature setting to a higher one said first circuit will be closed and said light off until the sole plate temperature rises to the new value.

OTIS B. SU'I'ION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,321,287 Daley et a1 Nov. 11, 1919 1,957,343 Hurxthal et a1. May 1. 1934 2,424,504 Riddington July 22, 1947 2,433,124 Johnson Dec. 23, 1947 2,450,450 Schmidinger Oct. 5, 1948 

